The unhappiest jobs in America

Of course teaching was ranked on this list!  First, teachers are underpaid.  Second, they have so much work and no one to help.  Third, they have so much to teach/cover and not enough time to do it.  Teachers have no freedom to teach, there is no creativity.  Instead they are given a script to read and students follow along.  And to top it off, many subjects such as art, music and physical education are being dropped.  How can a student really learn if they are cooped up in a classroom for 7 - 8 hours. 

Something else that hurts students is all of these standardized tests.  So much time is spent on preparing for all of these exams when teachers could be teaching material our kids really need.   

Steelerman, I graduated summa cum laude, in education, taking hard classes that weren't required just to push myself. I did all that while working, being a mom and wife, and an active community member. Don't you dare say that most teachers took the easy way out!

My summers "off" are spent working on our curriculum programs such as reading and math, attending workshops (out of my own pocket) and taking classes (also out of my own pocket) to keep current with new teaching methods and best practice. During the school year I teach all day, with about 20 minutes for lunch, and then go home and grade papers for 2-3 hours a night. That's in addition to the regular mom/wife duties I have (laundry, cooking, grocery shopping, chauffering)

I have kids who come to school without having had breakfast--how can I possibly expect them to learn when they are so damn hungry? I keep granola bars and other food items, paid for by me, on hand so I can feed these children and give them a better chance of making it through the day. I have parents who can't be bothered to spend 20 minutes a night reading with their child, or checking their homework, or even reading the notes I send home.

The teachers I know are dedicated, educated, and the hardest-working people I know. We are shaping  your future through your children, but we are less-valued every day. No wonder some of the teachers I work with have seriously thought about a career change. "Welcome to WalMart" is a lot less stressful than "We are going to work on writing a three paragraph essay."  

I know why nurses are on the list, low pay, long hours, they do all the work, & the doctor gets all the credit.

Teachers are there because they so rarely get to teach. It's all record keeping now. Then they're supposed to use the "learning by rote" method, which teaches nothing. There used to be administrators, but budget cuts took them out, & reduced teacher pay to a national disgrace.

Sales jobs are there because of the economy. You can't sell anything when nobody's in a position to buy, but the "engineer" gets the blame anyway.  Unless he can shift it to the product or program, then those "engineers" get the blame.

This is a poorly presented 'article'.  It 'shows' the unhappiest jobs, like a child's picture book, but doesn't explain why the jobs are unhappy?  For instance, perhaps the reporter should have explained in detail why teacher jobs are unhappy..perhaps because they are underpaid? that they no longer 'teach' but train students most of the year to take a standardized test..so the school will get money and the teacher 'might' recieve a small pay increase?  Are they public school teachers?  Same goes for RN's etc.

Redo this article with some insight...or add e-news writer to the list ! 

Reasons why retail/customer service is THE worst job in the world:

I've worked in call centers and retail. It is definitely time for a career change in my case. After ten years of "customers" yelling and screaming and complaining about things that the VERY low level employee has absolutely no control over; it's time for a change. You have to stand there and take it especially when they personally offend you and you cannot defend yourself. You work hard to the point it hurts you physically and to the powers that be and the "customer" -- that's not enough. I put quotations on the word "customer" because there are people who seek assistance for goods and services in a kind and decent manner and there are "customers." "Customers" are the ones who try to return things 3+ months after they bought it. "Customers" are the ones who demand you exchange their product way after the warranty expired." "Customers lie thinking your a stupid retail worker who has no ounce of intelligence. "Customers are the one who demand a discount when there is none to offer, because they feel they "deserve" it. Emergency Response personnel are needed 24/7; not retail workers. While Emergency Response works holidays taking care of those hurt and sick; retail workers have to deal with the savage behavior of irrational "customers" who will hurt anyone who takes a TV they want yet don't realize it's marked down because that TV is obselete and out of production. So, I ask to please realize that the cashier/salesperson has no authority to change policies that the higher management in corporate wrote. Realize when you stay beyond the closing time that the cashier/salesperson has a family to come home to and is being kept unpaid for that extra time. If you're gonna buy something be absolutely sure so you don't get tempted to return it after the 30 days. Realize that if your product brakes after the warranty expires; buy another one and take care of your stuff if you tend to mistreat them. Realize that an old model TV on black friday has been marked down way before black friday. Most of all be nice and respectful Yes, there are some who have a chip on their shoulder by nature but the majoirty of retail/customer service workers do not deserve to be disrespected. Treat others as you want to be treated.

Hey,  I am a teacher and I LOVE IT!!!  I am a preschool teacher since 2005 and I had never being so happy. My kids are the light of the day!!! I disagree.

Let's talk about teacher pay.... it differ's greatly depending on where you live. My state requires a masters degree but gives no aid in getting that degree. As a teacher I bring home less with my master's degree than a friend that work's a a local McDonald's .... that said it's a good thing I LOVE my job or I would NOT do it.....  Our insurance is good for the teacher but horribly expensive it we want to add our family. Yes we do get the summer off but we do NOT get paid for that time off so how is that a great thing? I essentially am a contracted employee that works 183 day's a year, 12-14 hour days in you include the time I spend grading papers and working extra-curricular activities such as ball games and academic meets. I tutor students after school on my own time and do everything necessary to see that my class succeeds because I am judged on their success or failure on state standardized tests and I only have them for a few months. Then I get roughly 6-8 weeks off in the summer and I go do it again with a different group of students again the next year. I am a teacher. I am not stupid, I did not flunk out of college , I did not choose this profession because I could not "hack" it at another one. For the record most of you could not even be on this website complaining, reading and posting if not for someone like me. I am not unsatisfied with my job although it would be nice once in a while to be acknowledged for the good things I do instead of bashed for the bad. At one time teaching was a profession that was looked up to and now people look at you and say "oh you are a teacher" like it is a shame, like they pity you.... my how time has changed our view of what was once a noble profession. For the record all the "noble" professions, the ones we look up to because they bring home the  big bucks, and buy the big houses... all of them required the support of some lowly teacher at some point along the way!